AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
Battle of Wilson’s Creek,
OR OAK HILLS,
FOUGHT BETWEEN THE
UNION TROOPS, COMMANDED BY GEN. N. LYON,
AND THE
SOUTHERN, OR CONFEDERATE TROOPS, UNDER COMMAND OF GENS. McCULLOCH AND
PRICE,
ON
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1861,
IN
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
WRITTEN AND COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES
By HOLCOMBE & ADAMS.
Published on the Twenty-Second Anniversary of the Battle, as a Full and
Faithful Account, and as a Memorial of the Reunion of the
Survivors of the Engagement of Both Sides, held August 8, 9, and
10, 1883.
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI:
DOW & ADAMS, Publishers.
1883.
St. Louis.
Nixon-Jones Printing Company.
[Illustration: BRIG. GEN. NATHANIEL LYON.]
[Illustration: GEN. STERLING PRICE.]
THIS BOOK
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE
BLUE AND GRAY
WHO TOOK PART IN THE
Battle of Wilson’s Creek, or Oak Hills,
August 10th, 1861.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS TO THE BATTLE 5
FIRST FEDERAL TROOPS 6
“SIGEL IS COMING!” 6
GEN. SWEENEY COMES TO SPRINGFIELD 7
SIGEL DEPARTS FOR CARTHAGE 7
GEN. LYON ENTERS THE COUNTY 8
SWEENEY’S EXPEDITION TO FORSYTH 9
CONFEDERATE MILITARY OPERATIONS 9
THE FIGHT AT DUG SPRINGS 11
GEN. LYON FALLS BACK 12
THE SOUTHERN FORCES UNDER PRICE AND M’CULLOCH ENTER GREENE
COUNTY—A GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT 15
CHAPTER II. THE BATTLE OF WILSON’S CREEK—THE UNION OR FEDERAL
ACCOUNT 17
GEN. LYON IN SPRINGFIELD 17
PRELIMINARIES OF THE FINAL STRUGGLE 19
A FALSE ALARM 22
A MESSENGER FROM FREMONT—NO HOPE! 23
CONFEDERATE MILITARY MOVEMENTS PRECEDING THE BATTLE 24
GEN. LYON MARCHES OUT TO BATTLE 26
THE MARCH BEGUN—ROUTE OF GEN. LYON 28
COL. SIGEL’S ADVANCE 29
LYON OPENS THE BATTLE 31
DEATH OF GEN. LYON 35
STILL THE BATTLE GOES ON 37
THE LAST GRAND CHARGE OF PRICE’S MEN 37
RETREAT 39
SIGEL’S PART IN THE FIGHT 40
DR. S. H. MELCHER’S ACCOUNT 46
CHAPTER III. THE BATTLE OF WILSON’S CREEK.—Concluded 51
THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE STORY 51
THE PART TAKEN BY M’CULLOCH’S ARMY 51
THE FEDERAL ATTACK 52
THE FIGHT AGAINST LYON 54
M’CULLOCH COMES TO THE RESCUE 55
THE BEGINNING OF THE END 58
VICTORY! 58
M’CULLOCH’S DESTRUCTION OF SIGEL 59
AFTER THE FAMOUS VICTORY 61
COMPARATIVE STRENGTH AND LOSSES OF THE TWO ARMIES 62
FEDERAL STRENGTH 62
CONFEDERATE STRENGTH 63
THE FEDERAL LOSS 64
CONFEDERATE LOSS—PRICE’S ARMY 64
DISPOSITION OF THE DEAD 66
THE HOME GUARDS AT SPRINGFIELD 67
THE RETREAT FROM SPRINGFIELD 68
CARE OF THE UNION WOUNDED 69
THE ARMY SETS OUT 69
THE CONFEDERATES ENTER SPRINGFIELD 70
PROCLAMATION OF GEN. M’CULLOCH 71
GEN. M’CULLOCH’S ORDER 72
GEN. PRICE’S PROCLAMATION 73
JOY AND CONGRATULATIONS 74
CHAPTER IV. PROMINENT REGIMENTS AND OTHER SUBORDINATE COMMANDS
ENGAGED IN THE BATTLE 76
CONFEDERATE COMMANDS 76
FEDERAL COMMANDS 84
DISPOSITION OF THE BODY OF GEN. LYON 96
BATTLE OF WILSON’S CREEK.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS TO THE BATTLE.
The Situation in Southwest Missouri After the Firing on Ft. Sumpter—The
First Federal Troops in the Country—“Sigel is Coming!”—Gen.
Sweeney Comes to Springfield—Sigel Departs for Carthage—Gen. Lyon
Enters the Country—Sweeney’s Expedition to Forsyth—Confederate
Military Operations—The Fight at Dug Springs—Gen. Lyon Falls
back—Gens. Price and McCulloch Follow up—A Great Battle
Imminent—Controversy Between Price and McCulloch.
In giving an account of the battle of Wilson’s Creek, or Oak Hills,
which though not the largest, has passed into history, as one of the
hardest and best fought battles of the American Civil War, it is
necessary to describe certain military movements and operations which
took place previously, in order that a better understanding of all of
the circumstances may be had. This must be done here briefly and in a
somewhat desultory way.
Upon the outbreak of the civil war in 1861, the people of Southwest
Missouri were divided in sentiment, although a majority of them were
Unionists. At the previous Presidential election, Lincoln, the
Republican candidate, had received 42 votes in Greene county alone, and
this district had sent unconditional Union candidates to the State
Convention the previous February by a vote of four to one. Union Home
Guards were organized in Springfield in May to the number of 1200,
composed of citizens of Greene, Christian, and adjoining counties and
commanded by Col. John S. Phelps (afterward Governor). The secessionists
in this quarter of the State were in the minority, but they were bold
and disposed to be aggressive.
FIRST FEDERAL TROOPS.
In a few days after the occupation of Rolla, Col. Franz Sigel took up
the line of march for Springfield. He had his own regiment, the 3d Mo.
Volunteers, and Col. Chas. E. Salomon’s 5th Missouri Volunteers. The
march from Rolla to Springfield was necessarily slow, as the Federals
were compelled to feel their way cautiously, but, considering all of the
circumstances, very good time was made. Detachments were sent out on
either side of the road from time to time, and the country pretty well
reconnoitered.
“SIGEL IS COMING!”
At last, on Sunday morning, June 24, 1861, the citizens of Springfield
who lived in the eastern part of town, looked out on the St. Louis road
and saw, coming leisurely along, a column of men led by others on
horseback. The wind lifted and shook out a banner, which, when unfolded,
showed the old familiar stripes in all their splendor and the stars in
all their beauty. Just then the band struck up a spirit-stirring air,
and the cry rang out and was caught up and borne through all the town,
“They are coming! They are coming!” If it was asked, “Who are coming?”
the reply sometimes was, “The Union soldiers,” but often came the
answer, “The Yankee Dutch.” People had different ways of looking at the
thing and different ideas altogether about the matter!
But whether they were “brave Union Germans” or “Yankee Dutch,” certain
it was that Sigel and his troops were in full possession of the town. It
was about 11:30 in the forenoon when the soldiers reached the main part
of town. Pickets were put out on all roads, and many prisoners made
among the citizens accused of real or premeditated “treason” against the
government. The court-house was pretty well filled at one time with
these prisoners. Some property was seized or “pressed” by the soldiers,
and their presence did not give universal or even general satisfaction.
GEN. SWEENEY COMES TO SPRINGFIELD.
On the 1st of July Gen. T. W. Sweeney (then really only a captain in the
regular army), having been _elected_ a brigadier by the St. Louis Home
Guards, came to Springfield with a force of, say 1,500 men, including
the 1st Iowa Infantry (dressed in gray uniforms) a portion of the 2d
Kansas, and some artillery and a battalion of regular dragoons.
By reason of his rank, which was recognized as that of brigadier, Gen.
Sweeney became the commander of the Federal army, then in Southwest
Missouri. He was a brigadier-general of Home Guards or U. S. Reserve
Corps; Sigel and Salomon and Brown were but colonels of volunteers.
Sweeney was an Irishman. He had but one arm, having lost the other in
the Mexican war. Like many another of his countrymen, he had more fight
in him than good judgment. Although starting in rank pretty well at the
top at the beginning of the war, he never attained any great military
distinction. After the war he led the Fenian raid into Canada, which
ended so ignominiously.
SIGEL DEPARTS FOR CARTHAGE.
After the battle of Boonville, June 17, the State forces, under Col.
Marmaduke and Gov. Jackson, retreated toward the Southwest portion of
the State to co-operate with the troops under Gen. Rains, and to be in
easy distance of the Confederate forces at Fayetteville, Ark., under
Gen. Ben McCulloch. News of this movement having reached Gen. Sigel at
Springfield, that officer at once set out to intercept it—to prevent, if
possible, a junction between the forces of Col. Marmaduke and those of
Gen. Rains, and to attack the latter and destroy him in his camp,
supposed to be near Rupe’s Point, in Jasper county.
“Pressing” a number of horses and wagons from the citizens of this
county, especially from about Springfield, Sigel, with the greater part
of his own and Salomon’s regiment and a company of regulars, set out
from Springfield westward on the Mt. Vernon road, one hot morning about
the 1st of July. His destination was Carthage, 65 miles away. He had
with him eight pieces of Backof’s artillery, 6 and 12 pounders. On the
5th the battle of Carthage was fought between the eight companies of
Sigel’s regiment, seven companies of Salomon’s and the artillery under
Backof on the Union side, and the State Guards under Gov. Jackson in
person, and Gens. Rains and Parsons. The Federals were defeated and fell
back to Mt. Vernon, Sigel being foiled in his attempt to prevent the
concentration of the secessionists.
GEN. LYON ENTERS THE COUNTY.
On the 3d of July Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, at the head of about 2,000
troops, left Boonville for the Southwest to co-operate with Sigel. On
the 25th of June five companies of cavalry, six companies of regular
infantry and dragoons, and ten companies of Kansas volunteers, in all
about 1,600 men, under command of Maj. S. D. Sturgis, left Kansas City,
destined also for Southwest Missouri. At Grand River, in Henry county,
the two commands formed a junction, and then started for Sigel. Hearing
of the latter’s defeat, and retreat to the eastward, Gen. Lyon changed
his direction more to the eastward and came into this county about the
13th of July, going into camp near Pond Spring, on section 31, township
29, range 23, in the western part of the county. Lyon came into the town
of Springfield July 13th, leaving, as he wrote to Chester Harding, his
troops, “a few miles back.”
Gen. Lyon was mounted on an iron-gray horse, and had an escort or
body-guard of ten men of the 1st regiment U. S. regular cavalry, all of
whom were men remarkable for their large size, strong physique, and fine
horsemanship. Lyon treated the citizens with courtesy and kindness,
although impressing their provisions and animals, to some extent, for
the use of his men. As soon as he arrived in this quarter he
communicated with Sigel, and with Gen. Fremont at St. Louis, asking the
latter to send him reinforcements at once. He also busied himself in
recruiting for the Federal service—issuing commissions to officers of
Home Guard companies, and mustering in enlisted men. Ho was visited by
Union men from counties north and east 75 miles away.
SWEENEY’S EXPEDITION TO FORSYTH.
Saturday, July 20, about 1,200 men were detailed under Gen. Sweeney to
break up a secession camp reported to be at Forsyth, the county seat of
Taney county. The command was composed of the two companies of regular
cavalry, under Capt. D. S. Stanley; a section of Capt. Totten’s battery,
in charge of Lt. Sokalski; about 500 men of the 1st Iowa Infantry, under
Lt. Col. Merritt; Capt. Wood’s company of mounted Kansas volunteers, and
the 2d Kansas Infantry, under Col. Mitchell. The expedition reached
Forsyth in the afternoon of Monday, captured the town with but little
difficulty, driving out about 200 State Guards, who had been quartered
in the court-house, and secured some blankets, clothing, guns,
provisions, horses and one or two prisoners. A quantity of lead was
taken from a well into which it had been thrown. Three shells were
thrown into the court-house after the Federals had possession of the
town.
Gen. Sweeney remained in Forsyth about 24 hours, and returned to
Springfield on Thursday. His loss was three men wounded, and Capt.
Stanley had a horse shot under him. It was reported that the
secessionists had five killed and ten wounded, among the latter being
one Capt. Jackson. A camp of 1,000 Confederates, at Yellville, Ark., was
not molested by Gen. Sweeney, although only 50 miles from Forsyth.
CONFEDERATE MILITARY OPERATIONS.
Meantime preparations were making among the secessionists of Missouri to
dispute the occupancy of the Southwest portion of the State with the
Federals. Gen. Ben McCulloch, of Texas, had been ordered by the
Confederate government to go to the assistance of its allies in
Missouri. Accordingly he rendezvoused at Fayetteville, Ark., where he
was joined by some Louisiana and Arkansas volunteers and a division of
Arkansas State troops. The Missouri State Guards, Gov. Jackson’s troops,
had rendezvoused, first near Sarcoxie, in Jasper county, afterward on
the Cowskin Prairie, in McDonald county, where some time was spent in
drilling, organizing and recruiting.
On the 25th of July, 1861, General Sterling Price, in command of Gov.
Jackson’s State Guard, began to move his command from its encampment on
the Cowskin Prairie toward Cassville, Barry county, at which place it
had been agreed between Generals McCulloch and N. B. Pearce, of the
Confederate force, and Price that their respective commands, together
with General J. H. McBride’s division of State Guards, should
concentrate, preparatory to a forward movement on Lyon and Sigel and the
other Federal troops in the vicinity of Springfield. On the 29th the
junction was effected. The combined armies were then put under marching
orders. The 1st division, commanded by Gen. McCulloch in person; the 2d,
by Gen. Pearce, of Arkansas, and the 3d, by Gen. Steen, of Missouri,
left Cassville on the 1st and 2d of August, taking the Springfield road.
It is said that Gen. Price, with the greater portion of his infantry,
accompanied the 2d division. A few days afterward a regiment of Texas
rangers, under Col. E. Greer, joined the martial host advancing to
attack the Federals. Gen. James S. Rains, formerly the well known
politician of Jasper county, with six companies of mounted Missourians
belonging to his division, the 8th, commanded the advance guard. Rains
was given the advance because many of his men were from this quarter of
the State and knew the country very well. On Friday, August 2, he
encamped at Dug Springs, in Stone county, about 20 miles southwest of
Springfield. The main army was some distance to the westward.
The Southern army was really composed of three small armies, as follows:
The Missouri State Guard, under Gen. Price; a division of Arkansas State
troops, under Gen. N. Bart. Pearce, and a division of Confederate troops
under Gen. McCulloch. Pearce’s division was composed of the 1st Arkansas
cavalry, Col. De Rosey Carroll; Capt. Chas. A. Carroll’s independent
company of cavalry; the 3d Arkansas infantry, Col. John R. Gratiot; the
4th Arkansas infantry, Col. J. D. Walker; the 5th Arkansas infantry,
Col. Tom P. Dockery, and Capt. Woodruff’s battery, the “Pulaski
Artillery.” All of the infantry regiments had enlisted only for three
months, and their time expired about Sept. 1. They were _State_ troops,
or militia. Another Arkansas battery, Capt. J. G. Reid’s, of Ft. Smith,
was also with Gen. Pearce, but assigned to McCulloch afterwards.
THE FIGHT AT DUG SPRINGS.
Gen. Lyon was duly informed of the concentration of the Southern troops
at Cassville, of the junction of Price and McCulloch, and of their
intention of marching upon his own camp. His scouts and spies were
numerous, sharp and faithful. They marched in the ranks with the
secession troops at times, hung about officers’ quarters, picked up all
the information they could and then made their way inside the Federal
lines in a very short time. For the most part Lyon’s scouts were
residents of this part of the State and knew all the country very
thoroughly. Gen. Price, too, had scouts and spies, who kept _him_
posted—who, by various ruses and stratagems visited the Federal camps,
and obtained valuable information and conveyed it to “Old Pap” in short
order. And Price’s scouts, too, were chiefly residents of Southwest
Missouri. A number of Greene county men did scouting for both Price and
Lyon.
Learning of the movements of Price and McCulloch, Gen. Lyon determined
to go out and meet them. He first sent more messengers to Gen. Fremont,
at St. Louis, begging for reinforcements, and late in the afternoon of
Thursday, the 1st of August, his entire army, which, by the addition of
Sigel’s and Sturgis’ forces, had been increased to 5,868 men of all
arms, infantry, cavalry and eighteen pieces of artillery, led by
himself, moved toward Cassville, leaving behind a force of volunteers
and Home Guards to guard Springfield. That night the army bivouacked
about ten miles southwest of Springfield, on a branch of the James. Gen.
Lyon’s subordinate commanders were Brig. Gen. T. W. Sweeney, Col. Sigel
and Maj. Sturgis. The next morning, early, the command moved forward. It
was a hot day and the men suffered severely from dust, heat and
excessive thirst, most of the wells and the streams being dry. Towards
evening five dollars was offered for a canteen of warm ditch water.
At Dug Springs the army halted, having come up with Gen. Rains’ advance
of the Southern forces. The Missourians were first observed about 11
o’clock in the forenoon, at a house by the roadside with a wagon
partially laden with cooked provisions, from which they were driven away
by shell from one of Capt. Totten’s guns. At the Dug Springs (which are
in an oblong valley, five miles in length and broken by projecting spurs
of the hills, which form wooded ridges), at about 5 o’clock in the
evening a skirmish took place between Rains’ secessionists and a
battalion of regular infantry under Capt. Fred Steele, a company of U.
S. dragoons under Capt. D. S. Stanley, and two 6-pounders of Capt.
Totten’s battery. The Southerners were driven away with a loss of one
killed, perhaps half a dozen wounded, and ten prisoners. A Lieutenant
Northent is reported as having been mortally wounded. The Federal loss
was four killed outright, one mortally wounded, and about thirty
slightly wounded. Three of the Federal killed were Corporal Klein, and
Privates Givens and Devlin.
On the side of the Missourians a young man named H. D. Fulbright, was
sunstruck in the engagement, and died. W. J. Frazier, of the Greene
County Company, attached to McBride’s division, was wounded.
The Federals pursued next morning, going as far as Curran, or McCullah’s
store, nearly on the county line between Stone and Barry counties, and
twenty-six miles from Springfield. During the day a scouting party of
secessionists, which had come across the country from Marionville, was
encountered at dinner. Totten’s artillery was brought up, a few shells
fired, and the Southern troops did not wait for the dessert! This is a
brief, but correct account of what is often referred to in histories of
the civil war as the “_battle_” of Dug Springs.
GEN. LYON FALLS BACK.
Finding that the enemy in his front was much his superior in numbers,
Gen. Lyon determined to go no farther than Curran, but to return to
Springfield and await the reinforcements so urgently requested of Gen.
Fremont before risking a decisive battle, the result of which would
certainly mean a splendid victory and possession of all Southwestern
Missouri to one party or the other. The Federal scouts also reported
that a large force of State Guards was marching to the assistance of
Gen. Price from toward Sarcoxie. Accordingly, after a conference with
his officers, Sweeney, Sigel, and Majors Sturgis, Schofield, Shepherd,
and Conant, and the artillery captains, Totten and Schaeffer, Gen. Lyon
countermarched his army and returned to Springfield, coming this time
directly to the town, where he arrived August 5th. The main body of the
army camped about the town. Nearly 2,000 of the volunteers and regulars
under Lt. Col. Andrews, of the 1st Missouri, and Maj. Sturgis were
stationed out about four miles from town. Two days later this force was
withdrawn to the line of defence around the town.
A vigilant guard was at once set upon all roads and avenues of approach
to Springfield. No one was allowed to _go out_, except physicians,
although everybody was admitted. Never, perhaps, in the history of war
was a camp so well guarded, and all knowledge of its character kept so
well from the enemy as was Gen. Lyon’s at Springfield.
Col. Thos. L. Snead, now of New York City, and Gen. Price’s assistant
adjutant general in 1861, has kindly furnished much very valuable
information to the writer hereof, and through this volume to the world
at large. The colonel’s means of knowledge are very superior, and he has
manifested the utmost willingness to impart what he knows concerning the
memorable days of July and August, 1861.
Col. Snead says that on Sunday morning, August 4th (1861), Gen. Price
and he rode over to Gen. McCulloch’s headquarters, at McCulloch’s farm,
and in the presence of Snead and Col. James McIntosh, who was
McCulloch’s adjutant general, Gen. Price urged McCulloch to co-operate
with him in an attack on Lyon, who was supposed to be in the immediate
front,—it not then being known to the Confederates that he had
retreated. McCulloch had no faith in Price’s skill as an officer, and a
profound contempt for the Missouri officers generally,—and for Gen.
Rains particularly.[1]
Gen. Price was a major-general of Missouri militia, McCulloch only a
Confederate brigadier. Price had a loud voice and a positive address,
and always spoke to McCulloch as if the latter were his inferior. “Do
you mean to march on and attack Lyon, Gen. McCulloch?” he demanded. “I
have not received orders yet to do so, sir,” answered McCulloch; “my
instructions leave me in doubt whether I will be justified in doing so.”
“Now, sir,” said Price, still in his loud, imperious tone, “I have
commanded in more battles than you ever saw, Gen. McCulloch. I have
three times as many troops as you. I am of higher rank than you are, and
I am twenty years your senior in age and general experience. I waive all
these considerations, Gen. McCulloch, and if you will march upon the
enemy I will obey your orders, and give you the whole command and all
the glory to be won there!” McCulloch said he was then expecting a
dispatch from President Davis, and would take Gen. Price at his word if
it should be favorable, and if after consultation with Gen. Pearce the
latter should agree also to co-operate, Gen. Pearce having an
independent command of Arkansas State troops.
Gen. Price immediately called his general officers together and told
them what he had done. They were at first violently opposed to his
action, but finally they gave their unwilling consent to what they
considered an unnecessary self-abasement. In the afternoon McCulloch and
McIntosh came to Price’s headquarters, and McCulloch announced that he
had received from Richmond, since morning, dispatches that gave him
greater freedom of action and also that he would receive that night
1,000 reinforcements (Greer’s Texas regiment), and that he would
therefore accede to Gen. Price’s proposition and assume command of the
combined armies and march against Gen. Lyon. Accordingly Col. Snead
wrote, by Gen. Price’s direction, the necessary orders and had them
published to the Missouri State Guard. It having been learned that the
Federals were retreating, orders were given to move that very night.
Lyon had, however, escaped, “and,” says Col. Snead, “this was fortunate
for us, perhaps.”
THE SOUTHERN FORCES UNDER PRICE AND M’CULLOCH ENTER GREENE COUNTY—A
GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT.
When Gen. Rains’ troops were driven from the field at Dug Springs, they
fell back on the main army under Price and McCulloch, some five miles
away, and reported that the force which had assailed them was not only
vastly superior to their own, but was much larger and more formidable
than the combined Southern army. It was evident that Gen. Rains, if not
badly whipped, was badly frightened. The Confederates and Missourians
were then encamped on Crane Creek, in the northern part of Stone county.
Thereupon there was confusion among the principal Southern officers.
General McCulloch counselled a retreat and General Price advocated a
forward movement. Price’s officers and men agreed with him and were
“eager for the fray.” As McCulloch was unwilling to advance, General
Price asked him to loan him some arms for the destitute portion of his
command, that the Missourians might advance by themselves. McCulloch at
first refused; afterwards 800 muskets were furnished the Missourians.
The embarrassing disagreement continued till in the evening of Sunday,
August 4, when an order was received by McCulloch from the Confederate
authorities ordering what Price much desired—an advance on General Lyon.
A council was at once held, at which McCulloch agreed to march on
Springfield provided he was granted the chief command of the
consolidated army. Price, to whom in right and justice the supreme
command belonged, anxious to encounter the Federals and defeat and drive
them from the State before they could be reinforced by Fremont from St.
Louis, consented to the terms of the imperious Texas ranger, saying: “I
am not fighting for distinction, but for the liberties of my country,
and I am willing to surrender not only my command but my life, if
necessary, as a sacrifice to the cause.” A little after midnight,
therefore, on Sunday, August 4, the Southern camp was broken up and the
troops took up the line of march, which was continued slowly and
cautiously, along the Fayetteville road to the crossing of Wilson’s
Creek, near the Christian county line, in sections 25 and 26, tp. 28,
range 23, ten miles southwest of Springfield, which locality was reached
on the 6th.